Pages

Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Erik does not believe in love and he doesn’t live in a mansion - he rides a motorcycle in a MC. He does not have an airplane. Erik is extremely confident, real, and knows what he wants. He wants a woman to submit; with no commitment for love. Erik will settle for nothing less than owning Kelli.

When these two begin to spend time together, things begin to change; personalities, interests, and the need for affection. What happens is something that must be experienced by the reader. This book is, again, not watered down. This book has tremendous depth to those that are looking to find it. It will, upon completion, allow you into the minds, hearts, and heads of people as they develop a D/s relationship.

Again, if you have always wondered about what a Dominant/submissive relationship is all about – less the airplanes, mansions, and billions, read Baby Girl. It’s real, it’s raw, and it’s got the hottest, steamiest real sex you can imagine.

Book #2 - For The Ones We Love

In this book, the second of three, we see the exposure of these two characters, as well as the other characters of Book I, to life...

This Book is different than Book I in that it is more of the living, and less 'thinking'.

Someone steals from the motorcycle club, and Erik begins to question loyalties, life, trust, and his exposure to people - the few he lets in his in his life.

These questions leave him seeking answers. Kelli sees changes in Erik and takes advantage of her opportunity.

This is what everyone wished for in Book I and did not get to read. Erik and Kelli 'doing', and less 'thinking'.

Prepare for a ride like no other, this book takes us on a journey through the lives of many, primarily Erik and Kelli.

Book #2.5 - Baby Girl Let's Be Honest

Everyone has a past, and Erik Ead is no exception. This book is about Erik's sexual past. Kelli and Heather have stumbled onto Erik's diary. Erik now sits at the fireplace contemplating his past, present love for Kelli, and where his relationship with Kelli will be headed in the future. Erik's diary has been a place for him to compile all of his information regarding sexual experiences from the beginning.

Book #3 - Love That Just Is

Kelli has developed into a woman that Erik cherishes, loves, and adores. He still, however, requires that she submit sexually and completely.

Erik has developed into a man that Kelli loves, respects, and wishes to please.

In this last of the four book series, Kelli's father becomes ill. Erik and Kelli each struggle with the imminent death of her father, and how to handle the loss of the only parent between them.

As the book progresses, so do they. Their true colors begin to show, and they become more of what each other may not necessarily expect. What they do become is real.

OMG this book totally blew my mind. It was so not what I was
expecting, which was a good thing. After reading the blurb I was immediately
predicting the storyline, how it would transpire and how the HEA would be.
WRONG! I just love it when a book does that to my jaded presumptions and kicks me
up the beam end to divulge a curve ball so off the wall, it had me seeing
stars. It’s not often that they come along, but sometimes a book will land in
your lap that offers you something so completely unexpected and opens your mind
to new experiences and feeds your imagination. Well this book was one of those.

Now saying all that, this is not a book for the impatient
reader as the story was a slow build up with flashes of the past intermingled
with the present. It sets itself out as a typical ‘new adult’ genre kind of
read but this is so far more than that. Yes there is the angst of old love
versus new love, jealously and infidelity but the reader is kept guessing as to
the outcome and when we are finally there it was so totally not what was envisaged
as a typical NA HEA.

Delilah (AKA as Lie) has been through a turbulent past, born
as the result of a violent rape, the victim of bullying, intermittent time spent
in care homes, a mother that hated her and religious grandparents who despaired
of her, all lead to her fate of meeting Brock and the explosive events that
would occur. She feels the only way to rid herself of her past is to reinvent
herself in another city, another world away that would bring her to Abel.

Abel himself is fighting his own demons and it is through
this shared sense of loss and abatement of his life that he finds an affinity with
Lie (or Kettle as he calls her)

To say much more would reveal far too much and this book
needs to be read with a total lack of expectation. It was so beautifully
written with an engaging prose it fully ensnared me until it was read and my
first thought upon reading it was ‘No way! OMG. Really?’ All the way through
the reader is given a soupçon of understanding of what and where Brock is in
the present and also where Abel has come from but it was so amazing how the
truth was finally revealed. I could actually relate it slightly to a film (one
of my all-time favourite mystery/suspense/horror) but to give the name would
lead you to an almighty clue as to the end.

This book therefore, for me, deserves a mega 5 star rating.
Absolutely fantastic!

Author Bio:

"I was a Russian spy at the ripe age of thirteen, given my uncanny ability to tell if someone was lying ( I also read fortunes on the weekends). By sixteen I had become too much of a handful for the Lethal Intelligence Ensemble (L.I.E.). I was quickly exiled to the south of France where I worked with wayward elephants in the Circus of Roaming Animals and People (C.R.A.P.). I was able to make ends meet by selling my organs on the black market for pocket change and beer money. At the age of twenty three I decided to expand my horizons and become a blackjack dealer in Ireland. I loved the family atmosphere at Barney's Underground Liquor Lounge (B.U.L.L.). People couldn't resist the allure of Liquor up front and poker in the rear. Eventually I became tired of the rear and headed off to the United States to try my hand at tall tales. That is what brings us here today. If you have a moment I'd like to tell you a story.

(This bio is not to be taken seriously under any circumstance.)

Teresa Mummert is an army wife and mother whose passion in life is writing. She is the author of the New York Times and USA Todaybestselling novels White Trash Beautiful and Suicide Note. Born in Pennsylvania, she lived a small town life before following her husband's military career to Louisiana and Georgia. Check out her website for samples and updates! TeresaMummert.com

Thursday, 26 December 2013

BEHIND HIS EYES – CONSEQUENCES is a reading companion, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig, recommended to be read after completing all of the CONSEQUENCES SERIES: Consequences, Truth, and Convicted. It is not a standalone book and should not be read as such.

This companion was written to explore the thoughts and motivations of Anthony Rawlings, the man behind the consequences. It was not intended as a total rewrite of Consequences, but meant to enhance the reader’s understanding. BHE-Consequences contains significant scenes from the novel Consequences, as experienced from Anthony’s point of view. It also contains never before read, behind the scenes information, as well as, a glossary of the characters and a timeline devoted to the events within Consequences.

BEHIND HIS EYES CONSEQUENCES is a dark journey into the mind of the man who believes that he controls everything and controls nothing. Because there is more to learn about the man who:

Once upon a time, signed a napkin that he knew was a contract. As an esteemed businessman, he forgot one very important rule—he forgot to read the fine print. It wasn’t an acquisition to own another person as he’d previously assumed. It was an agreement to acquire a soul. —Aleatha Romig CONVICTED

It was a long and painful acquisition—especially from Behind His Eyes!

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, who has been voted #1 "New Author to Read" on Goodreads July 2012 - Present!

Aleatha has lived most of her life in Indiana growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty seven years, they've raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include exercising, reading and creating heros/ anti-heros who haunt your dreams!

Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved. In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world.

CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011 by Xlibris Publishing. Then in October of 2012 Ms. Romig re-released CONSEQUENCES as an Indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012 and CONVICTED, the final installment of the Consequences Series, was released October 8, 2013! She is now releasing the CONSEQUENCES READING COMPANIONS: BEHIND HIS EYES – A trilogy of companions, from Anthony Rawlings’ POV.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

“He left me. Over and over again, promising he would come home and I waited. We both did and then one day he didn’t come back, instead they brought him back as he lays today and I cannot put myself through that again. You say it is your last time, but what do you mean it’s your last? How do you know? How could you know? I may be young but I am anything but naïve, I know the life. I’m fully aware of the threats involved with what you do. There will be a day that you are called away from me again, and that may be the last time. Do you understand? Do you really understand that I cannot let someone who I love walk away from me again and never return.”

Nicky Jayne was born and raised in England but now resides in Las Vegas with her Husband and two boys. When she is not writing, she has her nose firmly placed in a book. She released her first series in September 2013. The Embrace Series, Embracing Life and Embracing Love. You can visit her at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky-Jayne/409522015823277?ref=hl

Tuesday, 24 December 2013

After escaping to a college town, Juliana Petersen was determined to put her troubled past behind her and make the most of life. She was satisfied with her current situation, or so she thought. It wasn’t until the day her new photography professor stole her parking spot that she realized there was such thing as lust at first sight. Now, she must struggle with the decision to break the rules and fall in love, or step back and let the chance of a lifetime pass her by—all while her past relationships come back to haunt her.

How many men will it take to break Julia’s hold on reality?

Warning: This novel contains sexual situations and is meant for adult readers ages 18 and up.

Rene Folsom, author of paranormal romance and erotica, lives in Florida with her husband and three kids. She has officially diagnosed herself with creative ADD and, if it weren't for her day job as a web programmer, she would have a million and one writing projects going at once. In addition to web design, she is also a graphic artist who loves to create custom book cover designs for indie authors. She is definitely an artist at heart and would love nothing more than to be elbow deep in clay during her waking hours.Rene believes that all fiction is based on some form of reality—otherwise we would never have the inspiration or knowledge to dream up the realistic situations we portray with our words. She is proud to say that her personal experiences have been inspirational, though perhaps not always identical to that of her fictional characters. Where reality and fantasy diverge, however, must remain her little secret…

This is the first book in the Cornerstone series and
although it touches on a kind of taboo subject of teacher/student relationship
it isn’t really a forbidden storyline as the main characters are only a few
years apart in age.

Juliana Petersen has run away from her past with an abusive
ex and is now happily condo sharing with her best friend and attending college
to study arts and photography. However on a day she was running late and not
being able to find a parking spot she finally gets lucky only to have the spot
pinched by an annoyingly attractive man with an enigmatic smile. It was lust at
first sight! When she finds out who he is she will be in for a shock.

Aidan Stone is the new photography teacher who is brought in
late to cover the course due to the previous teacher having to retire on ill
health. Hence he has no teacher parking spot allocated which leads to him
needing to get a spot in the student’s lot to the utter annoyance of the breathtakingly
beautiful blonde he beat to the post. He was then taken aback when his late to
class student arrives and it is the beauty from the car park!

The story there after takes on a ‘will they won’t they’
dance with a few twists and turns thrown in which leads the reader on a journey
of surprises and suspense.

I do like the writing style of this author and this is my
first forage into Ms Folsom’s work. However I did feel there was a certain
something missing that would have added an element of engrossment for me. I found
myself at times getting side tracked by everyday life whereas when I am totally
involved in a read usually nothing can pull me away from my kindle.

I liked the character of Aidan although I wouldn’t class him
as an alpha male he was still an attractive enticement. One point though I
found so irritating was his overuse of ‘Angel’ or ‘Angel, mine’ which
constantly reminded me of a certain paranormal read from way back.

I can’t say I felt anything for Julia as I like my female
leads to be strong or at least show an inclining of some kick-assery but she
needed more backbone. I know this is the first book so I can only hope she goes
on to win me over.

The author left the reader with a real conundrum at the end
but I must admit it left a spark of ‘now we’re on it!’ for me. Lucky for me I
have the next book as an ARC so I can jump straight in to find out. This is a
good thing as it means all will not need to wait a lifetime for the next
instalment. I know we all hate cliffies!

Overall an enjoyable read which has left me wanting to
discover more in the Aidan and Julia (and….nope my lips are sealed!) story.

Despite living in free-spirited New Orleans, Elliot finds that his career as an insurance actuary has him constantly weighing the risks of every move he makes in his life. When Troy, his teenage crush, returns home to the Big Easy after a stint with the Marines and unexpectedly announces he’s gay, Elliot must decide if he’s willing to take a chance and find out if men really can do romance.

That’s how I describe my job when someone asks, “Elliot, what the hell is an actuary anyway?” Sure, I could go into all the nitty gritty details about health care laws I have to memorize and complex mathematical equations I have to solve. But those four words really summarize it. I tell a health insurance company how much they should charge you and if you’re even worth the risk. All day long I decide if whatever is worth taking a chance. I have to look at things within a black and white world. There can be no gray. So how could that not bleed over into my personal life?

Is that low season trip to Thailand during monsoon season worth the risk?

Is the depreciation of the car I like versus the slower depreciation of a car that I’m not so crazy about worth the possible loss in trade-in value?

Is moving to another apartment in a neighborhood that I may like more worth the risk of maybe ending up with shitty neighbors when I like the ones I have now?

Is the man sitting in front of me on a date worth the risk based on what he’s telling me? For example, he recently broke up with his boyfriend. Or worse, he still lives with the “ex” boyfriend.

On dates, when I get around to them that is, I find myself unable to stop running the guys against some mental check list to figure out if they…you guessed it…are worth the risk.

Does he seem hung up on an ex?

How long has he been out compared to me, and does he still have wild oats that need attention?

Does he live within ten miles to me? Because let’s face it, I hate driving long distances on a regular basis.

Will his lack of always chewing with his mouth closed drive me so nuts I may want to scream at the top of my lungs one day in the middle of a meal at Antoine’s?

Is he cuter than me? And if so, can I risk my somewhat jealous tendencies?

So many questions running through my mind. All the time. No wonder I can’t sleep. No wonder I’m on Prozac for anxiety. Each day is one long careful thought about is it, this, that, him worth the risk.

It’s a Tuesday evening. I’m being wild, for me, by being out on a work night. It’s actually a nice June night in New Orleans. The humidity isn’t too oppressive. The stars twinkle above. I have a nice glass of Merlot I’m sipping while sitting across from a reasonably cute guy. I’ve actually managed to snag a date. Okay, a friend set me up, but still. We met up at a cute outdoor wine bar in the Bywater I’ve been meaning to check out. Sounds good, no?

The guy’s name is Bailey, and he’s a paralegal. Check the box off next to the line item that reads “Sustainable Career.” He has wavy dark hair and blue eyes. A lethal combination to make my heart skip a beat. Check off the box next to the line item “Feel at least an inkling of sexual attraction.”

He actually asks some questions about me. Woohoo! Check off line item “Seems interested in getting to know me as a person.”

I tell him about growing up in the Garden District and my time spent backpacking across Europe and trying to find myself right after college. And then…

“You know my ex went backpacking across Europe,” Bailey says, his gaze suddenly appearing to be focusing on some point far, far in the distance. “He said it was the best time of his life.”

Uh, oh. Please don’t make me check off a line item in the column for “Run as fast as possible.”

“Have you ever been to Europe?” I ask, trying to bring the conversation back to…you know…us!

“No. But, Tim, my ex, said that he loved Sweden most of all. He always had a thing for blondes. Maybe that’s why…” Bailey says, his voice trailing off.

Please. No.

I’m not even half-way through my glass of wine, and this guy is making a mad dash for my personal “move on” line-up.

“Hmmm. I’ve never been to Sweden. But I’ve always had a thing for guys with dark hair,” I say not so subtly dropping what I would think would be a huge ass hint.

“We lived in New York for a while. Before we broke up, and I moved back here,” Bailey says, swirling the Merlot in his glass around and around.

“I still haven’t been to New York,” I say. “I was thinking maybe of taking a trip there next fall. Any recommendations?”

Come on, Bailey. You can do it! You can move back into the “maybe” column. For the love of God! Come on!

“Everything is amazing there. Everything,” he says still looking off into the distance. “I remember when I was flying back here after we broke up. I thought to myself how can you leave this city and this man that you love so much?”

Shit. I know it’s happened now. We’ve moved into the so not worth the risk because he’s hung up on his ex-boyfriend to the point that he doesn’t even realize he’s told you more about his ex than himself.

I lean back in the wicker chair I’m sitting in, sip my Merlot, and look up at the twinkling lights in the sky. I start to tune out Bailey as he starts in on how he met the ex.

Oh, well. Maybe the next guy. Maybe.

Review:

My Rating = four stars

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review

I must admit the title of this book had me thinking this
would be some kind of gay comedy and the not the romantic treasure it turned
out to be. So not only should I not judge a book by its cover, also not its
title. Anyway I digress – back onto this wonderful little novella.

Elliott has been feeling unsatisfied in both his love life
and his job as an actuary. Neither are excitable and he is looking for
something more, something to change his boring life. That’s not to say it is a
bad life, after all he has some great friends and a wonderful accepting family.
It’s just that he feels he is missing out on something. But then he hears that
Troy, the older brother of his best friend is back in New Orleans. Troy has
always been his secret crush but there is little hope of anything happening
between them as first off Troy is off the charts hot and out of his league but
mainly that he is straight with no curve in between.

Troy is the hero of his family, a soldier returning home from
war with an enormous secret he feels he can tell nobody, especially his
parents. His brother however is not shocked by Troy coming out to him, after
all his friend Elliott is out and proud and it’s with this connection he pushes
Troy to talk about his anxieties with Elliott, to enable him to come out to
their parents.

I really liked this storyline and the relationship development
of Troy and Elliott with added help from Elliott’s eccentric cousin and his friends
and Troy’s brother. The pace was well set and the secondary characters added to
gel this gorgeous story of love and new beginnings. It wasn’t overtly sexual
which I found a refreshing change as it gave more onus on the issues and how
the characters dealt with the difficulty of letting go of the past and moving
forward.

A thoroughly enjoyable read which introduced Mr Perronne’s
writing to me, which I shall now add to my reading list.

Author Bio:

Michael Holloway Perronne is the author of five novels and one novella: "A Time Before Me", "Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga", "Falling Into Me", "A Time Before Us"

"Embrace the Rain" and "Men Can Do Romance." His debut novel, "A Time Before Me" won the Bronze Award, Foreword Magazine's 2006 Book of the Year Award in the Gay/Lesbian

fiction category. In addition, Michael recently released his first travel guide, "The Quickie Gay Guide to Cape Town, South Africa."

Michael was born and raised in Mississippi. He received a BA in Film from the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA in Drama and Communications from the University of New Orleans.